SOFIANE KENNOUCHE

THE former Royal Marine and current Veterans Minister has announced government’s plans to make Scotland appeal to soldiers, veterans and their families.

The minister will launch the ‘Renewing Our Commitments’ scheme in Edinburgh later today during a speech at charity Veterans First Point.

In a letter to the Daily Recort, Brown said that would be a refocusing of the promise “to the armed forces, veterans and their families in order to make Scotland the most attractive place to be for those both during and leaving service life – offering supportive communities, good jobs, affordable homes and excellent public services”.

The scheme is designed to optimise housing, job availability, healthcare and employability to make sure that those with military service are able to enjoy a decent quality of life.

Brown has so far spoken on the Scottish Government’s investment of £10m into veterans’ groups.

He added: “We must engage more effectively with employers to improve veterans’ chances of securing a good job and provide access to high quality living standards, to great and sustainable job prospects and to the range of responsive services that Scotland has to offer.”

The announcement comes as numbers showed that 20,000 Army regulars are due to be axed by 2017, while the RAF and Royal Navy will each lose 5000 service personnel.

More than 2000 servicemen and women leave the armed forces every year in Scotland and there are 5000 who are homeless.